Last week, when my sister who is working in KL called and told me that she will be travelling to JB for some work, I started to worry about her safety. JB seems to be a word that incur fear in me. The fear to hear that my loved ones will be the next victim of crime in JB.

This morning I was told about the latest incidnet in Ipoh. A hairstylist was raped and murdered. This was the second case in 7 days. There may be unreported rape cases out there too. If you read the news report NST 24.7.2007, in fact, earlier a school girl was raped on 11 July but she did not dare to tell her parents.

Now, am worried for the safety of my family members in Ipoh too. Tell me, what else can we, ordinary citizen do to prevent crime or, like the government leaders always say, “work with the police or co-operate with the police.” My family do pay monthly to a private security company to patrol our neighbourhood at night. Yet, at times, I do fear for their safety at home.

I am fearful when walking in the street during day or night. When I drive, I lock the door. Before I get down from the gate, I do look at the rear mirror. Whenever I can, I do not carry handbag . I always remind myself not to put my bag on the chair at the coffee shop. I will walk back to my car to collect my laptop if I have forgotten to take it with me. I do not wear any jewellery to avoid attracting the criminals. Neither I wear sexily nor transparent clothes to catch the attention of the rapist. Tell me, what else I have not done to prevent myself to be the next victim. I believe most of the women out there are doing the same! Are we safer? Perhaps, do we feel safer? Isn’t this co-operation with the police enough to ensure a safer city?

Teenager at clinic robbed and raped
By : P. Chandra Sagaran

IPOH: She was sick and went to a clinic at 2am. There, she was kidnapped by two pa- rang-wielding men who took her on a terror ride and then raped her.

The teenager was later abandoned in Tanjung Malim, about 140km away.

City police chief ACP Jalaludin Ibrahim said the girl had gone to the clinic in Ipoh Garden on Saturday with a friend.

While waiting to be treated, two men entered the clinic and held up the two friends and a nurse, robbing the clinic of RM1,900 and the women of two handphones.

“The men then grabbed the victim and pushed her into a BMW 3 series car parked outside the clinic.

“The girl was taken on a terror ride before being raped. She was abandoned at 6.30am in Tanjung Malim,” said Jala- ludin.

She later sought help from passers-by and lodged a report. She was sent to the Tanjung Malim Hospital for a medical examination.

Jalaludin yesterday released the photofits of two men in their 20s whom they believe can assist in investigations.

In another case, police detained a school employee in connection with the rape of a Form One student in a guard room at a Grik school on July 11.

District police chief Supt Mahad Nor Abdullah said the man had gone to the school hostel and tricked the girl into accompanying him by telling her that her parents had come to see her.

When she went to the gate, he grabbed her and dragged her into the guard room where he assaulted her until she passed out.

Mahad said when the victim regained consciousness after a while, she felt pain in her private parts. She was warned by the suspect not to relate the incident to anyone.

“The victim kept quiet until her sister-in-law noticed that she had become sullen and frequently lost her temper. When questioned, she revealed everything.”

The girl later lodged a report and was sent to the Ipoh Hospital for a medical examination.